Archaeology Underwater: The NAS Guide to Principles and Practice

to identify if, when, and what type of active man-

agement might be required. It can help determine

whether or not a site needs to be stabilized or arte-

facts recovered.

Monitoring of all submerged archaeological sites is

impracticable because of the enormous number of sites

and the limited resources available. Despite a number of

well-publicized initiatives, such as the ‘Adopt A Wreck’ pro-

ject run by the NAS (see NAS website), monitoring of

underwater sites is likely to remain highly selective.

It is not possible to give comprehensive advice on

when sites should be monitored, because requirements will

depend on local and national priorities and the perceived

importance of individual sites. However, monitoring

should definitely be considered in the following circum-

stances:

• following any intrusive investigations;


• where significant instability is suspected; and


• for sites considered to be of national or international
  significance regardless of their perceived stability.

The type and amount of data required in a monitor-

ing programme will depend on the reasons for monitor-

ing the site in the first place, and also on:

• whether an individual site or a whole landscape is
  being monitored;


• the location;


• the level of resources available; and

Monitoring

Monitoring of submerged archaeological sites involves

observing, surveying and sampling sites to detect signs of

both short- and long-term change. A monitoring project

can be of short or long duration, depending on what ques-

tions are being asked about the site or sites involved.

Sites are monitored to:

• Find out about how sites are formed:The processes
  that form submerged archaeological sites are
  poorly understood. Monitoring a site not only
  helps to answer questions about how that site has
  been formed and reached its current state, but also
  contributes to a wider understanding of the forma-
  tion and subsequent behaviour of submerged sites
  in general.


• Observe and understand the processes affecting the
  condition of sites:Very few sites are completely stable.
  Most are changing in some way and the degree of
  change can be relatively slow, rapid, dramatic or
  subtle. Observing and measuring these changes
  helps archaeologists to understand the complex
  processes that aid or threaten the preservation of
  a site. Such understanding can enable predictions
  concerning the effect of future changes on a site
  (plate 17.1).


• Establish whether or not protection is required:Data
  collected in pursuit of the previous two points will
  result in a more informed decision-making and
  site-management process. This enables archaeologists

Site Monitoring and Protection 17

Underwater Archaeology: The NAS Guide to Principles and Practice Second Edition Edited by Amanda Bowens
© 2009 Nautical Archaeological Society ISBN: 978-1-405-17592-0